Alternative to La Poste Signature Électronique: Certyneo in comparison
La Poste offers two electronic signature solutions: the offer integrated into Digiposte (digital safe) and the professional Signature Électronique offer. Both eIDAS compliant and hosted in France, they remain however oriented toward large accounts and lack flexibility for freelancers, SMEs and tech teams who want an API. This comparison introduces you to Certyneo, a French alternative to La Poste, more accessible and equally sovereign.
No free plan at La Poste
La Poste's Signature Électronique offer starts from €9.90/month with no free plan or extended trial. Certyneo offers 5 free envelopes/month permanently, without a credit card.
Limited API and opaque pricing
La Poste API access is reserved for contracts on quote. Certyneo exposes a documented public REST API from the Standard plan at €19/month, with webhooks and SDK.
Interface in French only
La Poste's signer interface is only available in French — blocking if you work with international clients or partners. Certyneo offers 41 signer interface languages.
Equivalent sovereignty
Both are actors under French law, outside the Cloud Act. The choice is therefore based on features and pricing, not sovereignty.
Certyneo vs La Poste Signature Électronique — comparison 2026
| Criterion | Certyneo | La Poste Sign. Elec. |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent free plan | 5 envelopes/month, no credit card required | None |
| Entry price | €9/month (25 env.) | €9.90/month (10 env.) |
| eIDAS levels | SES + AES + QES on request | The SES + AES + QES |
| Public REST API | Yes from €19/month, public documentation | Quote-based only |
| Hosting | EU (Germany), outside Cloud Act | France |
| Signer interface languages | 41 languages | French only |
| Native integrations | The Commission has also identified a number of other potential sources of funding. | +/Office plans only |
| Support | Email + chat, all plans | Phone, business hours |
Why choose Certyneo over La Poste Signature Électronique
Certyneo was designed for freelancers, SMBs and tech teams who want French sovereignty without the constraints of legacy offerings. Our permanent free plan, our publicly documented REST API, and our signer interface in 41 languages give you the flexibility that La Poste offerings haven't (yet) embraced — while remaining under the same French legal framework and the same eIDAS European regulation.
- 5 free envelopes/month, no credit card required
- Public REST API from €19/month
- Webhooks and official SDKs
- Signer interface in 41 languages
- eIDAS SES + AES native compliance
- EU hosting outside the Cloud Act
- Assisted migration from Digiposte
Sovereignty: Certyneo and La Poste, two players under French law
Unlike American players (DocuSign, Adobe Sign) subject to the Cloud Act, Certyneo and La Poste are both European players compliant with GDPR and outside American extra-territorial jurisdiction. The choice between the two can therefore be made on functionality, price and user experience without compromising data sovereignty.
Frequently asked questions — alternatives to La Poste Signature Électronique
- What is the difference between Digiposte and La Poste Signature Électronique?
- Digiposte is a consumer-facing digital safe (invoices, pay stubs) with a signature option. La Poste Electronic Signature is the dedicated B2B offering, with a professional interface and advanced features (multi-signatories, eIDAS levels). Both are managed by La Poste but target different audiences.
- Is Certyneo as sovereign as La Poste?
- Certyneo is a French company subject to European law, with hosting in the European Union (Germany, Tier 4) and GDPR compliance. Like La Poste, Certyneo is outside the scope of the American Cloud Act. The difference lies on other axes (price, API, languages) rather than sovereignty.
- Can you migrate your already-signed contracts from La Poste to Certyneo?
- Already-signed contracts remain valid: a PDF signed by La Poste remains readable and enforceable in court regardless of the solution used to sign it. For future contracts, you can switch to Certyneo at any time — we offer free assisted migration if you are coming from a legacy solution.
- Why does Certyneo offer a free plan while La Poste does not?
- Our business model is based on progressive conversion to paid plans: we offer 5 free envelopes/month permanently to allow freelancers and SMEs to test the solution without commitment. La Poste historically targets large annual enterprise contracts — which makes a free plan less strategic for them.
- Does Certyneo's offering cover electronic registered letters (LRE) like La Poste does?
- No, Certyneo focuses on electronic signature. For electronic registered letters with proof of receipt (eIDAS-qualified under Article 44), La Poste remains a reference player with its AR24 offering. The two services are complementary: you can sign a contract with Certyneo and then send it by LRE La Poste if needed.